Taleban envoy in Pakistan leaves for Kandahar

The Taleban embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday said that ambassador Mullah Abdul Salaam Zaeef had left for the Afghan town of Kandahar for consultations, but denied rumours that the mission had been shut following the capture of Kabul by Northern Alliance forces.

"We have neither left the embassy nor received any order for its closure," Taleban Deputy Ambassador Suhail Shaheen told the media.

"We worked in the embassy till the official timings on Tuesday," he said.

Saheen, however, confirmed that Zaeef had left for Kandahar for consultations with the Taleban leadership. Significantly, his departure was timed with the withdrawal of Taleban troops from Kabul.

Asked about Zaeef's departure, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Mohammad Khan said he was not aware of it.

The Taleban has consulates in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta besides its embassy in Islamabad.